Delhi is experiencing a serious flood like situation due to heavy rains that have caused the Yamuna River to rise to near-record levels. This year's record rainfall has choked the city's traffic and led to widespread waterlogging. On Wednesday, the Yamuna River's water level at the Old Railway Bridge remained steady at 207.48 meters for a period in the morning. This followed a significant rise on Tuesday, when the river had already crossed the danger mark of 205.33 meters and was well above the evacuation level. As a result, authorities closed the Old Railway Bridge to all traffic and began evacuating over 10,000 people from low-lying areas. The rising floodwaters reached critical locations, including parts of the Ring Road and even the Delhi Secretariat. The swelling of the river was largely due to a continuous high discharge of water from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana, which had been releasing over one lakh cusecs of water for several days.
Today, Thursday morning, the Yamuna's water level at the Old Railway Bridge was holding at 207.48 meters. The Central Water Commission has predicted that the level will likely drop after 8 a.m. However, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange and yellow alerts for Delhi and surrounding areas like Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad, expecting more rain.
Also Read: Heavy Rain Warning: Delhi Under Orange Alert, Residents Advised to Stay Cautious: Watch Now
The forecast for Friday, indicates that while the skies will remain generally cloudy, the intensity of the rain is expected to decrease. The IMD predicts "one or two spells of very light to light rain/thundershowers." This may offer some relief from the continuous downpour and could help the river's water level begin to recede more noticeably. Temperatures are expected to range from a minimum of 24 degrees Celsius to a maximum of around 33 degrees Celsius.
Yesterday's Situation
The situation remains critical, as the water level has surpassed the 207-meter mark a level that has been breached only five times since 1963. The floodwaters have impacted key religious and government sites, reaching areas near the Delhi Secretariat and the Shri Marghat Wale Hanuman Baba Mandir.
The Delhi government has issued a flood warning and is taking a series of steps to manage the crisis. On Tuesday, officials began a large-scale evacuation of over 10,000 people from low-lying areas. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) ordered the closure of the Old Railway Bridge to all traffic and has set up temporary relief camps in 28 locations across the city's affected districts.
A spokesperson from the Delhi government assured the public, "there is no need to panic. Delhi Govt is on high alert, teams are on the ground, and we are fully committed to safeguarding every Delhiite.”
To prevent the river from backing up into residential areas, two key drain regulators at Vijay Ghat and Tonga Stand have been closed. The Delhi Jal Board is also working with the Central Water Commission and the Haryana government to monitor and manage the river's flow. Officials are on round-the-clock duty, and resources like sandbags, boats, and mobile pumps have been deployed to vulnerable sites.
While the Central Water Commission has forecasted that the river level may begin to fall after 8 a.m. today, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange and yellow alerts, predicting more rain for Delhi and neighboring areas.
Also Read: Delhi Rains: Water-logging Continues | Check the best routes to Commute
